An offer of £969,724 was approved at Cabinet today (June 20) for Sefton’s Adult Community Learning Service to be used for the next academic year from August 2019 – July 2020.
The funding is from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Adult Education Budget. Under its devolution agreement, the Liverpool City Region is responsible for adult education from August 1, 2019.
The level of grant available to Sefton has been increased from last year’s allocation of £787K to £820K and an additional £150K has been included for the operation of some agreed “test and learn” pilot activities.
Sefton’s Adult Community Learning Service offers adults over the age of 18 from any background the opportunity to learn and develop skills through different courses with the view of entering the jobs market.
Cllr Ian Maher, Labour leader at Sefton Council, said: “Improving the skills of our workforce is central to the Council’s wider aims on economic growth.
“This amazing amount of money will go a long way in enabling more local residents to gain the skills and confidence they need to take up employment opportunities arising from investment and regeneration.
“Our superb Adult Community Learning Service offers real opportunities for residents who have had less favourable educational attainment to access second chance learning opportunities to improve their confidence and wellbeing.
“The Service targets a high proportion of learners who are vulnerable in terms of low skills, long term worklessness, BAME, learning difficulties and other disabilities.”
Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “Devolution means that we can make decisions locally about the things that affect us.
“We have waited a long time to take over responsibility for adult education, which means that we can now work with our local partners to ensure that adults in our city region can develop the skills and learning they need to equip them for work, for an apprenticeship or other learning.
“This is vitally important for the future of the city region and we look forward to being able to further tailor what we offer to suit our own needs over the years to come.”
For more information about Sefton’s Adult Community Learning Service visit www.sefton.gov.uk
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